Frugal Living: 25 new messages in 11 topics

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

25 new messages in 11 topics - digest

misc.consumers.frugal-living
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living?hl=en

misc.consumers.frugal-living@googlegroups.com

Today's topics:

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TOPIC: how have you fought against shrinking cereal?
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/97e6d127104a33a1?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 5 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 9:58 am
From: me@privacy.net

"h" <tmclone@searchmachine.com> wrote:

>Don't buy it. Cereal and other grains should not be eaten by humans. Grain
>is what food eats.
>

So what to eat for breakfast then?

== 2 of 5 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 12:37 pm
From: "Rod Speed"

me@privacy.net wrote
> h <tmclone@searchmachine.com> wrote

>> Don't buy it. Cereal and other grains should not be eaten by humans.
>> Grain is what food eats.

> So what to eat for breakfast then?

I havent bothered with breakfast for almost half a century now.

Just have a single slice of toast, as thick as will still fit in the toaster
bought specially to be able to toast the thickest bread available.
The bread is mulitigrain, made in the bread machine.

Dont even bother with coffee anymore, just water.

== 3 of 5 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 1:54 pm
From: Parallax

By doing what I've always done, eat pop tarts.

== 4 of 5 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 3:06 pm
From: Seerialmom

On Jun 25, 4:52 am, "OhioGuy" <n...@none.net> wrote:
> I just heard that the average size of a box of cereal is shrinking by 2.3
> ounces. Outrageous! Most cereals I see now are very processed, and
> horribly expensive - often $3 or more per pound when you do the math. I can
> often get decent cuts of meat for about that.
>
> I'm tired of feeling gouged for cereals, and am wondering how you folks
> have fought back against the high prices.
>
> For years, I've considered buying grain bulk (several of my uncles are
> farmers) and trying to process it into something we can eat for breakfast
> (like hot wheat, or whatever), but I've never tried it, and am afraid my
> kids might not eat it.

I stopped eating cereal a few years ago along with milk. However from
time to time the local grocery store will have a $1-$2 each sale on
Kelloggs cereals (which I'll buy for my son). Even if the Frosted
Mini-Wheats are only 14oz vs the previous 15.4oz it's still worth it.
But if you want to keep it even more frugal, buy the Malt-O-Meal
equivalents in the bags and pour those into Rubbermaid or Tupperware
cereal keepers.

== 5 of 5 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 7:40 pm
From: JonL

OhioGuy wrote:
> I just heard that the average size of a box of cereal is shrinking by 2.3
> ounces. Outrageous! Most cereals I see now are very processed, and
> horribly expensive - often $3 or more per pound when you do the math. I can
> often get decent cuts of meat for about that.
>
> I'm tired of feeling gouged for cereals, and am wondering how you folks
> have fought back against the high prices.
>
> For years, I've considered buying grain bulk (several of my uncles are
> farmers) and trying to process it into something we can eat for breakfast
> (like hot wheat, or whatever), but I've never tried it, and am afraid my
> kids might not eat it.
>
>
Go to a health food store that carries bulk grains. Try steel-cut
oats, too. Buy small amounts, see if your kids will eat it, or if you
want to bother with the xtra work.

Or, try serving your reg cereal in smaller bowls, or dilute it with
something cheaper, or use lots more milk to "expand" the shrinkage.

ps: I stopped eating natural foods when I realized most peeps die a
natural death.......

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Carl's Jr Burger Coupon
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/f6e9668e1bcdf4ef?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 12:15 pm
From: Cheapo Groovo

http://www.carlsjr.com/coupon/Prime_Rib_Burger.jpg

==============================================================================
TOPIC: How many here own food freezer?
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/79858a8bd8f90308?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 4 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 2:30 pm
From: Vandy Terre

On Wed, 25 Jun 2008 06:50:37 +1000, "Rod Speed" <rod.speed.aaa@gmail.com> wrote:

>Samantha Hill <samhill@TRASHsonic.net> wrote
>> clams_casino wrote
>
>>>> It's all dated, and I don't have the chart handy but I know you can keep it for something like six months.
>
>>> Considering the pricing cycle is about 4 weeks and there are usually several grocers running sales (often at
>>> different times), why settle for 6-month old frozen meat?
>
>> Because I am self-employed and my income is not a steady stream, so I keep cycling food in and out of my freezer so
>> when I have short of work, we still have food.
>
>You dont need a freezer for that, you can do the same thing with cash instead.

Can you??? If you keep the freezer full of foods found on sale, then it is
there and available. The sales may not happen when your cash is low.

I too suffer from lack of steady income. I buy heavy when there is money and
sales. I keep my food bill under $600/ month for 4 adults and 2 teens. If it
in the freezer it is probably meat of some sort. Vegetables are bought canned
on special. Salad makings are purchased on sale or home grown.

General multiple stop shopping done once per week with the grocery as last stop.
Trying to reduce that to once every two weeks. Once every two means freezing
bread and milk or returning to home baked bread and hand milking the goats. As
prices climb for bread and milk, hand milking goats is looking better and
better. Homemade bread tastes better than store bought, but summer heat makes
baking bread most uncomfortable. LOL Maybe the cure to insomnia would be
baking bread, cakes, cookies in the middle of the much cooler sleepless night.
Might not cure the problem but it would make better use of the sleepless night.
;^P

== 2 of 4 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 2:44 pm
From: "Rod Speed"

Vandy Terre <vandy@tanglewood-destiny.com> wrote
> Rod Speed <rod.speed.aaa@gmail.com> wrote
>> Samantha Hill <samhill@TRASHsonic.net> wrote
>>> clams_casino wrote

>>>>> It's all dated, and I don't have the chart handy but I
>>>>> know you can keep it for something like six months.

>>>> Considering the pricing cycle is about 4 weeks and there are
>>>> usually several grocers running sales (often at different times),
>>>> why settle for 6-month old frozen meat?

>>> Because I am self-employed and my income is not a steady
>>> stream, so I keep cycling food in and out of my freezer so
>>> when I have short of work, we still have food.

>> You dont need a freezer for that, you can do the same thing with cash instead.

> Can you???

Corse you can, and with cash you can get a decent earning rate on it too, instead
of the inevitable loss with the food you end up discarding with the freezer too.

> If you keep the freezer full of foods found on sale, then it is there and available.

Yes, but thats just as true when you keep it in cash too.

> The sales may not happen when your cash is low.

Corse they will.

> I too suffer from lack of steady income. I buy heavy when there is
> money and sales. I keep my food bill under $600/ month for 4 adults
> and 2 teens. If it in the freezer it is probably meat of some sort.

> Vegetables are bought canned on special.

And canned veg is nothing like as good as frozen with a few exceptions.

> Salad makings are purchased on sale or home grown.

But arent suitable for the freezer, so irrelevant to what is being discussed.

> General multiple stop shopping done once per week with the grocery
> as last stop. Trying to reduce that to once every two weeks.

Separate matter entirely to what was being discussed, using
a freezer for the time when not working or with lower income.

> Once every two means freezing bread and milk or returning to home baked bread

And its even less effort to home bake bread with a bread machine than it is to buy
commercial bread and the home made bread leaves the commercial shit for dead.

> and hand milking the goats. As prices climb for bread
> and milk, hand milking goats is looking better and better.

Or you could give up on milk completely if you dont have little kids.

> Homemade bread tastes better than store bought, but
> summer heat makes baking bread most uncomfortable. LOL

Not if you use a bread machine.

> Maybe the cure to insomnia would be baking bread, cakes, cookies
> in the middle of the much cooler sleepless night. Might not cure the
> problem but it would make better use of the sleepless night. ;^P

Dont have that problem and use a bread machine. Dont bother
with cakes and cookies anymore, prefer fresh fruit instead.

== 3 of 4 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 4:33 pm
From: "Lou"

"Samantha Hill - remove TRASH to reply" <samhill@TRASHsonic.net> wrote in
message news:4861a24e$0$17220$742ec2ed@news.sonic.net...
> Lou wrote:
> >
> > Both these freezers are manual defrost. I've had both manual and self
> > defrosting types, chest and uprights. The difference in convenience is
> > overwhelmingly in favor of an self-defrosting upright, in my opinion -
well
> > worth the difference in operating cost.
>
>
> I agree that manual defrost units use less power -- but have you found
> any manual defrost units that are Energy Star rated? I haven't.

I just cited two - it took no more time to find than to browse to the Sears
web site.

== 4 of 4 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 4:42 pm
From: Samantha Hill - remove TRASH to reply

Lou wrote:
>>
>> I agree that manual defrost units use less power -- but have you found
>> any manual defrost units that are Energy Star rated? I haven't.
>
> I just cited two - it took no more time to find than to browse to the Sears
> web site.

Sorry -- I thought you said they were NOT Energy Star rated. And finding
them on Sears explains why I haven't seen them. I haven't done business
with Sears ever since the time a salesperson told me, "We don't have to
do anything to get your business. We're Sears. You're automatically
going to come to us."

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Wooden Chairs
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/e101ef490ecdc037?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 2 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 3:01 pm
From: Al Bundy

turtlelover wrote:
> AndyTao wrote:
> <snip>
>
>
> No thanks. The shipping cost from China is the deal breaker. Not very frugal.

That light colored hard wood they make stuff with is very nice. The
trouble is that many of the designs are under-engineered and break.
They don't understand how tough Americans and especially American kids
can be on furniture. I save the larger pieces from the cast offs of
others. It makes great repairs and toys.
I would not buy anything shipped directly from China. They are
shipping us some wasps here in the midwest to help fight the emerald
ash borer that has nearly killed off all the ash trees. We can still
get aluminum baseball bats though-from China.

== 2 of 2 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 3:13 pm
From: "Rod Speed"

Al Bundy <MSfortune@mcpmail.com> wrote
> turtlelover wrote
>> AndyTao wrote

>> No thanks. The shipping cost from China is the deal breaker. Not very frugal.

> That light colored hard wood they make stuff with is very nice.
> The trouble is that many of the designs are under-engineered
> and break. They don't understand how tough Americans and
> especially American kids can be on furniture.

Or they dont realise what hippos most of them are.

> I save the larger pieces from the cast offs of others. It makes great
> repairs and toys. I would not buy anything shipped directly from China.
> They are shipping us some wasps here in the midwest to help fight
> the emerald ash borer that has nearly killed off all the ash trees.
> We can still get aluminum baseball bats though-from China.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Free Tacos
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/ab3babf7d5753f0b?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 2 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 3:14 pm
From: Cheapo Groovo

From Jack in the Box

Thursday 6/26 - bring in a gas station receipt

http://www.jackinthebox.com/twofreetacosday/

http://www.cheapogroovo.com

== 2 of 2 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 3:24 pm
From: Seerialmom

On Jun 25, 3:14 pm, Cheapo Groovo <c...@nospam.com> wrote:
> From Jack in the Box
>
> Thursday 6/26 - bring in a gas station receipt
>
> http://www.jackinthebox.com/twofreetacosday/
>
> http://www.cheapogroovo.com

That's just too funny. I must have been posting mine at almost
exactly the same time as you...I even "looked" to see if there was
another topic with the same subject! Oh well...it's still free if you
have your gas receipts.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Jack intends to lessen the pain of high gas prices
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/010bb3847a39e95e?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 3:21 pm
From: Seerialmom

By producing another source of gas...through Tacos. In the US (maybe
elsewhere, not sure), if you bring a recent gas receipt to Jack In The
Box you can get 2 free tacos. It's this Thursday, June 26th. Details
on their site:

http://www.jackinthebox.com/twofreetacosday/

Bon appetit! :)

==============================================================================
TOPIC: CBS News on the economy and grocery shopping
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/1ad6efab460db467?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 2 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 3:57 pm
From: Truly Stunned

In article <6c7p46F3eisqtU1@mid.individual.net>,
"Rod Speed" <rod.speed.aaa@gmail.com> wrote:

> clams_casino <PeterGriffin@DrunkinClam.com> wrote
> > catalpa wrote
>
> >> The biggest part of my and many other peoples budget is taxes. I'd love to
> >> save money on taxes, but the federal,
> >> state, county and local governments and the school board won't let me.
>
> > You can always move to a country that doesn't provide any services.
>
> No such animal, and even if there was, there would still be taxes to pay
> their parasites.

Try Hong Kong. That's about as close as you will get.

== 2 of 2 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 4:33 pm
From: "Rod Speed"

Truly Stunned <violin@thebridgeofsighs.sad> wrote
> Rod Speed <rod.speed.aaa@gmail.com> wrote
>> clams_casino <PeterGriffin@DrunkinClam.com> wrote
>>> catalpa wrote

>>>> The biggest part of my and many other peoples budget is taxes.
>>>> I'd love to save money on taxes, but the federal, state, county
>>>> and local governments and the school board won't let me.

>>> You can always move to a country that doesn't provide any services.

>> No such animal, and even if there was, there
>> would still be taxes to pay their parasites.

> Try Hong Kong. That's about as close as you will get.

Sure, but even they still provide services.

And they have parasites too.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: china whole sale gucci purses coach lv sun glases lv prada puma traines
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/cbc9f25131b2fa50?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 5:38 pm
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==============================================================================
TOPIC: Free software.
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/1252e269bdfffdb8?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 2 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 6:02 pm
From: Gordon

At the risk of looking like a spammer (But, I'm not trying
to sell anything). There is nothing for sale on this site.

I found a web site a while back that maintianed a list
of the 47 best freeware applications. For those who
don't know, "Freeware" is software that is totally free.
Much of it is very good (The Linux opperating system,
Picasa from Google, AVG antivirus, etc).

Well, "Gizmo" Richards has totaly redone his web site
and has recruited about 60 volunteer editors to help
maintain one of the best freeware evaluation sites on
the web. The list of evaluated freeware is way over 100
now.

Now you don't have to buy commercial software, or take
a chance on unknown freeware. Find the best of the best,
the cream of the crop, right here.

www.techsupportalert.com

I would like to say that I have no connection with the site.
But, I have to admit that I have contributed articles to the site.

Obviously I think it's a great site. And saving money on
software is in keeping with the mission of this group.
(I think we had a discussion thread on it once).
So enjoy.

== 2 of 2 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 7:54 pm
From: Samantha Hill - remove TRASH to reply

Gordon wrote:
>
> Now you don't have to buy commercial software, or take
> a chance on unknown freeware. Find the best of the best,
> the cream of the crop, right here.

The site of freeware programs recommended by the readers of the
newsgroup news:alt.comp.freeware is located at

http://www.pricelesswarehome.org, and not only does it have an
impressive collection of "best of" freeware, but it has links to lots of
other sites that have lists of freeware.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Budget
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/9f56decb39ba091e?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 4 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 6:03 pm
From: Marsha

I'm curious. How many of you have a formal budget where you actually
put down all your monthly expenses and income? I've never had one. I
just do the numbers in my head, which is probably not a good idea in
retrospect.

Marsha/Ohio

== 2 of 4 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 6:32 pm
From: val189

On Jun 25, 9:03 pm, Marsha <m...@xeb.net> wrote:
> I'm curious. How many of you have a formal budget where you actually
> put down all your monthly expenses and income? I've never had one. I
> just do the numbers in my head, which is probably not a good idea in
> retrospect.
>
> Marsha/Ohio

Quicken gives me the complete picture on all income and outflow back
to 1991. Could not operate without it. It has a budget feature, but
I don't use it.

No way can you track it all in your head - especially cash purchases.

== 3 of 4 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 7:09 pm
From: Marsha

val189 wrote:
> No way can you track it all in your head - especially cash purchases.

Hence the reason for my post :-)

Marsha/Ohio

== 4 of 4 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 8:03 pm
From: "Rod Speed"

Marsha <mas@xeb.net> wrote:

> I'm curious. How many of you have a formal budget where you actually
> put down all your monthly expenses and income? I've never had one.

Me neither.

> I just do the numbers in my head,

I dont bother. Just watch the cash balance over time and
notice it keeps on increasing over time so dont bother.

> which is probably not a good idea in retrospect.

Depends on how close to the wind you are flying. Its fine if you arent flying that close.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Target stores unit pricing on paper goods.
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/2a1db67120ad9cd3?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 25 2008 8:49 pm
From: the zak

Target unit pricing shelf labels for paper goods like paper
towels and toilet tissue list the unit price per 100 sheets
instead of per 100 square feet as do other stores.
It's inaccurate. Sheet sizes vary. Converting unit pricing
from per 100 sheets to per 100 square feet is difficult
to do in the aisle of the Target store.

==============================================================================

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Wednesday, June 25, 2008

25 new messages in 11 topics - digest

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